Acetylene-gas generator.



L. L. CONKEY.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATORa.

APPLlCATION FILED FEB. 23. 1915.

11 ,%%7 9:%v Patented Nova 27, M21.

2 SHEETS-SHEET K- if w; j i w 1; v WITNESSES. lll/I/E/VTUI? 1 Men/7am! L, Com/m I 421: "ma 5 A TTOR/JE V5 L. L. CONKEY.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATIION FILED FEB. 23.1915- ]i ,g%? ,934, Patented Nov. 27, 1917...

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I/VVE/VTUH Leo/1 ard L. Gonke y esteem e m'res PATENT @FFIQE Lebimeh Ll cmc'e'y, OF LAWRENCE, MICHIGAN.

ACETYLE NE-GAS GENERATOR.

i'e imeee;

Speeifiation of Letters Patent. Patemfied NOV; 2?, 1191?;

Afipiiati'dnfild Fehituaiy 23, Mai Serial Ne. 9,935

Lawrence, h Iithigeh, hay e inverftd certain new and useful 'lnipro'i emiitsin Acetylene Gas Generators, o f which'the folliiwiiig is a specification.

This" inveiitioii' relates to impi-ovemehts in acetylene: gas gxgerftorsf The objects of thisini eiitihn'z i: l First, to proi ide in a1 sttuhture of the class described, eh inifi'fdved measuring end feeding device zict ueted by the moye nerit'ofi the gas hell W1 ch d'e'live'rset p -epe inter- 'vals Wit-l1 certainty e definitely nie iisiired quantity of carhid into the genefatiii chem her.

Second, to prbvide improved cd nctiprisf wlth the gas bellf0r'actuat1ng saidm'easuring and feeding device.

is emptied,endlztniiiiprioved'memes discharg'in g the contents thereof into'theriizi-in carbiddriag'hiihe. v H e e Fourth; t e provide a 'contztine'r carrying a supply of cai'bid for pf'ming the geneetor and mea'tis for dischztiginig'sfiiid su' into the generetorchemher he'ii the a1iXilia-ry cerhid supply discharged" iiitdthe' main carbid magazine. v

i I 1 My? 1 Fifth, to prov de en mproved acetylene gas generator and impro'yed eerbicl feedihg' devices thereforwhich are siiiiiole and durean" auxiliary supply cf perleielite the geriel ater withoiit permitting the es'c'ape of gas."

Sixth; to prdvicle impiovedhie ziiisjfer removehly suppertmg thec2irb1d meg'ezme.

Further objects; aiid objects relating t0 details and economies of constructioii and operation'kvill definitely eppe'er fromithe detailed description to follow;

I accomplish the0bjects (if my iiveiitioh; by the devices and m eaiis descrihed'iii the following s iecification. The i nvefitiends and pdinted iit in the clearly defined claims. 7 r

A structure, constituting a preferred em:

hodiment of my iiiveiitien illtis trhted the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a vertical, seetipiiellvieiv through an acetylene gas geherater c911 structed 1n accordance Wlth' my lfiVIlflOl'l,

of the c'aiflbid feeding clevice,'thephftsheiiig the' ce rbi'd niegaziiie and feeding device being slioii n in full lines. l

Fig. II is an enlargedbottQinplzin View 01' the chrbid feeding and ieasurihg device.

Fig. III; is ail e ilai'gedf detziil sectional view th'reugh the carhid feedihg device and the l Wer erid of the main clarbid magazine taken; on a line corresponding to line 33 I of Fig. II. e

FigfIV is an enlarged, detail iew inside elevatiefi eoi 'respending tee part of Fig. I

shown by dotted lines in the position they assume before deliveriiig n fresh charge of czirhid' t the generator. I

.Fi'g l is in enlargedydetail View in side elevation showing the other side of the car bid feeding device. e e e VF iii enhirged, detail,'fi*agmei1 my, sectim l xl View teker'i 011' a line corresp'o ndinflqhte the line (Sf-6 of Fig. I, showing in gemil thevzihre fer cqntrelling the Fig; VII is an eiilz rged, detziil,sectiemil, View, taken on a'fliiie cdii-es onding to the line 17%? (if Fig' s Ila 11d VI, end showing, in detgtil the container for the ca rbid suppljfohpriniihfithe geiierater nnd'the valve for cldsinif the seine.

Fig, VIII is ex enlarged: dt'ztil; sectionil View on the line 88 of Figgl and VI, shewing i1 1 d'etail th e pivdt for the ahxilifily cerbidsupply vah e'. e V r Fig; IXis ail enlarged; detail, namely tary, sectidiihlvie v, oii'lthe lihe 9-90f Fig. I, shewingili detail the top ofthe niaiii ca'rhid magazine andth cover for the seine.

In the draWihQ', similar reference characters refer to simile 1"parts?threugheiit the several,views .ahd the sectional views are when liking'in the direction of the little errews'at the ends of the secti'oii lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the to the generator chamber. A gas discharge pipe passes through the side walls at the casings 3 and 1 and the generated gas passes out of the chamber through this pipe. The

space between the lower portion of the outer casing 1 and the upper portion of the generator casing 3 is filled with water and forms an annular water chamber in which the lower portion of the cylindrical gas bell 21 is disposed, said Water chamber forming a seal to prevent theesc'ape of gas, while the gas bell 21 can riseand fall with the rise and fall of the gas pressure within.

' 'The'main carbid magazine 6 has secured thereto a plurality of hooks 6 which engage the upper edge of the generator casing 3 so that said carbid magazine is centrally supported within said generator chamber. The carbidmagazine has a conical shaped bottom provided with a discharge opening and the conical casting 8 is secured to the lower end thereof, as shown iirFig. 111,

journaled on said rod 12 between the ratchet wheel 1 1 and the hanger arm 10, said lever arm having a weighted end 17 and being connected at the other end to an actuating rod 16 by means of whichsaid lever arm,

is rocked in one direction. Said lever arm 15 isprovidedwith an arm 18 which extends atright angles thereto from its pivot. A pawl 18 is pivoted on the outer end of i said varm 18., said pawl being adapted to engage the teeth'of the ratchet wheel ll as the lever 15 is rocked on its pivot so as tecause the cylinder 11 to rotate and discharge ca-rbid from the feed pockets 13 into the generator chamber. Upon the other end of thecylinder 11, there is secured the ratchet wheel 19*provided with teeth cor} responding'to the feed pockets and the pawl 20 pivoted on the hanger arm 10 is adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel 19- to prevent the cylinder from turning back ward. An arm 15 extends laterally from the rear end of the lever arm 15, adjacent.

the weight 17 and said arm has a portion j 15 7 extending parallel to the lever arm 15 and journaled on the rod 12. j

An auxiliary carbid magazine is carried by the gas bell 21 and is adapted to contain an auxiliary supply of carbid to be used in case the contents of the main magazine should be exhausted at a time when, it

is inadvisable or inexpedient to fill thesame. It very often happens that the main carbid magazinebecomes exhausted during the evening and, in order to fill the same, it is necessary .to remove the gas bell so that acetylene gas escapes and dangerous explosions often occur because of the ignition of this gas by the flame of a lantern or light which happens to be used in filling the magazine. It is to obviate such accidents that this auxiliarys'upply of carbid is provided Thellower end'of this auxiliary'magazine 22 is open but it is normally fclosed by a valve, as shown in FigJVI'. The plate 24 is pivoted on the pin 25 and has a portion26 at one end carrying a pad of felt 27 whichengagesthe lower end of the magazine 22 to close the same and thus normally 7 prevents the discharge of carbid from this auxiliary 'fe'ed hopper The pivot pin or bolt 25 carriesa compression spring 25 which engages the plate 241and tends' to prevent the movement of the same on its pivot. Aicontainer 23 is secured to the under side i: the top of the gas bell 21, as shown in Flgs. I and VI, and provided with an open-,

ing in its lower side. This container 23 is adapted to contain a small supply of carhid and the opening therein is normally closed by the end of the plate 2-4;. The actuating rod16 extends upwardly through a guide tube provided in the main carbid hopper, as shown in Fig. I, the lower end o'fsaid. actuating rod being bent laterally and se cared to the end of lever arm 15, as has already been pointed out. Curved guide members 29 are secured to thelower surlface of the gas bell 21in linewiththe top of the actuating rod 16 which, when the gas bell is in its lower position, is disposed between said guide members. -A roller-28 is disposed on saidactuating rod 16 in position to be engagedby the edge of the plate:

241: when the gas-drum is rotated- When the.

gas bell rises, due to, the evolution 01.

after the discharge of ,carbidintothegenerator chamben'the weight .17 actuates' the lever arm 15 to carryv the pawl 18 to a posi tion such as shown by dotted lines'inFig. IV. This movement alsocarries the actuate ing rod 16 upwardly. When the bell lowers, as the as pressure decreases, the top thereof engages the top of the rod 16 forcing thesame downwardlyand giving the'carbid feedcylinder 11 a quarter turn so as :to dischargethe carbid which has; been delivered into one pocket and to bringthe next pocket into line to receive a fresh supply of carbidv A curved guard or chute 30'is securedtothe gas bell adjacent the container 23 anddirects the carbid from the 7 container 23 inwardlyonto the cover 31 of the main carbid magazine so that it will pass down into the generator chamber. I

The main carbid magazineis provided witha removable cover 31 having'a central said auxiliary magazineis' discharged into the main carbid magazine. A-bail or handle 34 is secured to the top of the gas1bell 21 and extendsupwardly within the casing 1- to. a position such that it may be readily reached from the topof the casingl when the cover 2 is removed. Aguid'e rod is secured to the top of the auxiliary magazine 22 and thehail' 34; isstrengthened and stiffened by said guide rod35. s

From the description of the parts given above, the operation should bevery readily understood. The lower part of the generator-chamber is-filledwith water. The cover 2 may beremoved from the top of the cylindrical casing 1' andthe gas bell21 may be removed by lifting upwardly on the bail This carries withit the auxiliary magazine 22 and the valve controllingthe same and the container '23 holds the supply of carbid for prnn1n gthe generator. The main car-bid magazine 6 may be removed by hft ingthe hooks 6 from their support on the upper edge of the casing 3 so that theinag azine and carbid'feed cylinder 11 maybe removed; In the operation of the device, whena-fresh charge of carbid is introduced into the generator and acetylene gas is evolved; the gas bell 21 rises, allowing the actuating rod 16 to rise underthe influence of the weight 17 on the lever arm 15 so that theleyer arm 15 moves to the'position shown in dotted lines in Fig. IV carrying the pawl 18 into engagement with the next adjacent ratchettooth. The cylinder 11 and the feed pockets 13are'i11=tl1e position shown in Fig. III: The pocket 13 which is adjacent the openingf), having been filled with carbid passing downwardly through the opening' 9 from themaincarbidmagazine, when the pressure of the gas within the gas bell on" the generator chamber decreases and the gas bellfalls so that the top thereof engagesthe upper end-of the rod 16 andfforces the same downwardly. The pawl 18, engaging the tooth of the ratchet wheel gives thecylinder 1 1a quarter turn so that the filled feed pocket is I emptiedinto the generator chambera-nd another feed pocket is brought into line to befilled. It will thus be seen that eaclrtime the gasbell falls to"a'predetermined point a measured quantity of carbid is dumped into the generator chamber.

In case the main'carbid magazine 6 should become emptied, the auxiliary carbid magazine 22 can bebrought into service. The

8%, the gas drum 21 may berotated. This causes'the edgeof the plate 24 to engage the roller 28 onthe upper end of the r0d16 so that the plate 24' isturned to one side on its pivot 25. This opens the auxiliary magazine 22 and allows'the supply of carbid contained therein to pass down through the funnel 32 into the main Cll'bltl magazine (3 and into'the feed pocket 13 which is in line with the discharge openii'igil. At the same time, the plate 24n1ores away from the opening in the container 23 and allows the carbid contained therein to be discharged into the generator chamber. The curved guard 30defiects this carbid inwardly so that it will not fall into the water chamber between the casings 3 and 1. This carbid, which'is suppliedfrom the container 23, acts to prime the generator in that it generates enough gasto lift the gas bell so that on the next descent thereof, the carbid contained by the feed pocket 13 will be discharged into; the generator chamber.

It will be observed that, in this way, I have provided an effective auxiliary carbid Supply which can be brought into play by simply rotating the gas bell a short distance. This is accomplished without escape of gas thus obviating any danger of an explosion. Thisis desirable in view of the fact that the supply of carbid is almost invariably exhausted in the evening when the main ma azine cannotbe refilled without a great deal of difiiculty and some danger due to the escape of gas. a

I am aware that the particular embodiment, which I have here shown and de scribed, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I do not wish to be restrictedto the same. however, that this form is to be preferred and, therefore, I desire to claim the same specifically as well as broadly as indicated by my appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a gas generator, the combination of a generator casing with a generator tank in the bottom thereof, an outer casing sur rounding the upper part of said generator casing, and forming an annular water chamber between said generator casing and said outer casing,a cylindrical gas bell having its lower edge disposed in said annular water chamber, a main carbid magazine within said gas bell with-discharge opening at the bottom, supporting means therefor, a vertical guide tube through said magazine, a carbid feeding and measuring device carried by the lower end of said magazine, an actuating v rodjconnected with said feeding device and extending upwardly through said guide tube of such length that it is acted upon by the bell when in lowered position, a pair of guide'members on said gas hell disposed to" receive theupper end ofsa-id rod I have found,

when the bell is in lowered position, arcover for said magazine having a central opening therein, an auxiliary 'Cflfbld magazlne carneed by said gas bell and provided w1th an open lower end delivering into said icarbid magazine through said central opening, a reserve supply boxffor carbid carried by said gas bell and provided witha discharge opening at the bottom disposed to deliver outsidethe main magazine into the-tank below, a plate pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot disposed within and carried by said gas bell and having one end normally clos-r ing the opening in said reserve supply box, the edge of said plate being disposed to co act with the upper end of said actuating rod when the bell is in lowered position, a guard plate secured to said gas bell adjacent said box and inwardly and downwardly directed to deliver the reserve carbid direct to the generator tank to prime the generator, and

a cross handle secured to the top of said gas bell whereby the same may be rotated, coacting as described for the purpose spec1- fied. V

2. In an acetylene gas generator, the combmatlon of a generator casing with tank in the bottom, a gas bell or holder with a water sealing chamber for the bottom there- ;of, a carbid magazine disposed and supported within said gas bell with a discharge opening at the bottom, a vertical guide tube through said magazine, a carbid feeding and measuring device at the lower endof said magazine, an actuating rod therefor extending through said guide tube of such length as tobe acted upon by the bell when the bell is in lowered position, guide members on said gas bell disposed to receive the upper end of sa d rod, an auxlllary carbid magazine carried by said bell and delivering intohandle on said gas bell whereby the same may be rotated, coacting as specified.

3. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination of a generator casing with tank in the bottom, a gas bell or holder with a water sealing chamber for the bottom thereof, a

carbid magazine disposed and supportedwithin said gas bell with a discharge opening at the bottom, a vertical guide tube through said magazine, a carbid feeding and measuring device at the lower end of said magazine, an actuating rod therefor extending through said guide tube of such m r s length as-tobe acted upon by the bell when the bell is in lowered position, an auxiliary carbid magazine carried by said bell and de-, liveringinto the main carbid magazine, a reserve supply box for a priming charge of carbid carried by said gas bell withdischarge opening delivering direct into the generator tank, a plate pivotally mounted on a verticalpivot disposedwithinand car-' ried by;said gas bell, disposed to normally; close the openings in bothsaid" auxiliary magazine and said reserve supply box, p0 sitioned to coact with theupperend of said feed actuating rod when the bell is in lowered position, and a handle on said gas bell whereby the same may be rotated, co-. acting as specified. V i a V 4. In an acetylene gasgenerator, the combination of a generator casingwith tank in the bottom, a gas bell or holder with awater sealingchamber. for the. bottom thereof, a carbid magazinel disposed and supported. within said gas bell with adischarge'open ing at the bottom, a carbid feeding and measuring, device at the IOWGI'aIlClOf saidmaga zine, an actuating rod therefor of such length as to beacted upon'by the bell when the bell is in lowered position, an auxiliary carbid magazine carriedjby said bell and, delivering into the. main carbide magazine, a reserve supplybox for a, priming charge of carbid carried bysaid gas bellwith discharge opening delivering direct into the generator tank, a plate pivotally mounted on a vertical pivotdisposed within and car ried by said gas bell, disposed to normally close-the openings in both said auxiliary magazine and. said reserve supply box positionedto coact with the upper endlof said a feed actuating; rod .when thebell is'inlowered position, and a handle'on said gas bellfl whereby the same may be rotated, coacting as specified. i a i 5., Inian acetylene gas generator, the com: bination of a generator casing with tank in the bottom, a gas bell or holder with a water. sealing chamber for the bottom thereof, a carbid magazine; disposed and supported within said gas bellwith a discharge opening at the bottom, a'carbid feeding and measuring device'at the lower end of said magazine, actuating means forsaid carbid feeding device, I an auxiliary carbid' magazine carried by saidbell and delivering into the main carbid magazine, a reserve supply box for a priming charge of carbid carried by said gas bell with discharge opening de-V livering directinto thegenerator tank, a plate pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot disposed within and carried by said gas bell, disposed to normally close the openings in both said auxiliary magazine and said. 1"e-. serve supply box, and a handle on said gas bell whereby the same may be rotated and means actuated thereby to discharge the conemma tents of said auxiliary and priming means, coacting as specified.

6. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination of a generator casing and tank, a gas bell, a main carbid magazine With means for-delivering therefrom, an auxiliary carbid magazine disposed Within and carried by said bell and delivering into the main carbid magazine, a reserve supply box for a priming charge of carbid carried Within the said gas bell and dischargingdirect into the generator tank, and means for rotating Copies of this patent'may be obtained for said bell and connections to said auxiliary magazine and reserve supply box for opening the same on rotating the bell, coacting' as specified.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

LEONARD L. CONKEY. [11. s.]

Witnesses:

LUELLA G. GREENFIELD, GRACE B. THOMPSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington D. G. 

